Tape for slide fasteners



March 16, 1948. c. mma ET AL' I 37,7

TAPE FO R SLIDE FASTENERS 1 Filed March 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS SHOE/YE. F lRl/VG.

0 ROBQT. M GIBBONS. Jil- March 16, 1948. o. FIRING EIAL TAPE FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed March'24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fess:

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Patented Mar. 16, 1948 TAPE FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Osborne Firing, Staten Island, N. Y., and Robert M. Gibbons, Jr., Meadville, Pa., assignors to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania This invention relates to tapes for slide fasteners, and particularly, to a new and improved woven beaded edge stringer tape therefor.

Generally, slide fasteners comprise a pair of beaded edge stringer tapes having a series of spaced apart interlocking fastener elements securely clamped thereto. The beaded edge on the tape is usually formed by stitching two separate cords on opposite sides of the tape along one edge thereof. This practice is not only tedious and expensive, but requires special sewing machines and other miscellaneous equipment which adds materially to the cost of manufacture of slide fasteners. I

Various suggestions have been proposed for integrally weaving a head on the edge of the tape during the weaving thereof, but such tapes for various reasons, have not proven entirely satisfactory. Usually, in such woven bead tapes, a single enlarged bead is formed by providing a woven sleeve which encloses a cord or stufling material, but a tape woven with a single bead in such a manner does not provide an effective or satisfactory gripping surface for the fastener elements. It has been proposed, also, to provide an integrally woven tape with two fully enclosed beads or cords, but such a construction presents a large and bulky edge which is objectionable. In other proposed integrally woven edge tape constructions, the two cords forming the bead are usually held in position by the weft threads of the woven tape which pass around the beads or cords. This is disadvantageous for the reason that the weft threads are exposed to the clamping action of the jaws of the fastener elements thereby subjecting these weft threads to a cutting or abrasive action by the jaws. This, of course, is objectionable for the reason that if the weft threads are cut or severed, the stringer tape will fail at a point immediately back of the fastener element jaws, thereby resulting in failure of the fastener and making it unfit for use.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved integrally woven beaded edge tape for slide fasteners to which the fastener elements can be properly and satisfactorily attached thereby eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages of such tapes heretofore proposed.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved integrally woven beaded edge tape wherein the weft threads are so interwoven with the cords of the bead that they are covered and shielded thereby so as to protect the weft threads from any abrasive cutting action by the fastener elements.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide an improved integrally woven beaded edge tape wherein the bead consists of two separate oppositely twisted groups of cords disposed .ing and closing the fastener in a Application March 24, 1945, Serial No. 584,640

5 Claims. (Cl. 139-384) on opposite sides of the tape so as to provide a medium hard twisted cord selvage which is sumciently soft and has adequate bulk and yet, does not impair the flexibility of the tape.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved integrally woven beaded'edge tape having a curvature or fixed radius, whereby the beaded edge portion is of less length than the other or outer edge portion, which is a desirable characteristic for slide fastener stringer tapes for reasons well-known in the art.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the'course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which our invention may assume in practice,

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a slide fastener having stringer tapes embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of our improved tape showing the curvature thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a slide fastener stringer showing how the tape assumes a straight configuration after the fastener elements have been attached thereto;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic plan view of a. fragment of stringer tape constructed in accordance with our invention;

; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tape as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of our improved tape showing the first pick or course of weave;

Fig. '7 is a. similar view showing the return or second pick of the weave;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the succeeding or third pick of .the weave;

Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the return 0 fourth pick 01' the weave;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the next succeeding or fifth pick of the weave;

Fig. 1115 a similar view showing the return or sixth pick of the weave; and

Fig. 12 is a weavers diagram for the improved tape of our invention.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a conventional slide fastener comprising a pair of stringer tapes 20 each having a beaded inner edge 2| woven integrally therewith in accordance with the present invention. There is attached to the opposed beaded edges of thextapes a series of spaced apart interlocking fastener elements 22 on which there is arranged a slider 23 for openwell-known manner.

Referring to Fig. 2, the tape 20 is initially woven in a curved condition so that the desired concavity is provided at the beaded edge 2|. It is the purpose of this curvature to compensate for the stretch and elongation of the beaded edge which is subject to tension when the fastener elements 22 are clamped thereto. After the fastener elements have been attached to the tape, the tape stringer will assume a straight condition, as shown in Fig. 3.

According to the present invention, and referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the beaded edge 2| comprises two groups of intertwisted longitudinal cords which are twisted preferably in opposite directions. In each group there is provided preferably three cords, making in all a total of six cords in the beaded edge, but it will be understood that two cords in each group may be provided or more than three may be provided, depending on the size of the beaded edge desired. It has been found, however, that the more cords there are in each group, the greater the helix angle will be in the twisted cords. In using three cords, as in the present instance, this helix angle is from 20 to 30 degrees, as designated at a in Fig. 4, and twisted cords having such a helix angle have been found to provide a satisfactory beaded edge for a fastener stringer tape. One of these groups of cords is disposed on one side of the tape and consists of vcords I, 2 and 3, and the other group is disposed on the opposite side of the tape and consists of cords 4, 5 and 6 with the former group having preferably a right hand twist and the latter group having a left hand twist, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 5. Between each group of cords, there is provided on the outer side thereof, substantially in the plane or the tape, a longitudinal binder or thread I for a purpose hereinafter to be described. It is preferable that each group of cords be twisted toward the body of the tape for the reason that such twisting tends to roll or embed the filler or weft thread 8 into the body of the fabric. The body of the tape is of a conventional twill design or weave and consists of a plurality of warp threads 8 interwoven with a weft or filler thread 9. The weave of each of the picks is over two and under two of the warp threads 8 throughout the tape, but, if desired, in the two warp ends nearest the cords, the weave may be over one and under one. That is, in the present construction, the weft thread passes over two of the warp threads 8 and under two alternate warp threads throughout the body of the tape. The particular weave or design shown for the body of the tape is not important as it constitutes no part of the present invention.

The tape of the construction as above described, is woven in a manner now to be described and attention is directed to Figs. 6 through 12 of the drawings. The tape is woven from a continuous weft thread with the first pick designated II (Fig. 6); the second designated I2 (Fig. 7); the third designated I3 (Fig. 8) the fourth designated I4 (Fig. 9); the fifth designated I5 (Fig. 10); and the sixth designated I6 (Fig. 11), the first pick recurring after the fourth pick in the body of the tape, but not recurring until after the sixth pick in the two groups of cords I forming the beaded edge.

The first pick II, as shown in Fig. 6, passes under two and over two of the warp threads alternately, as above described and then passes between the group of cords I, 2 and 3 of the beaded edge so as to pass over cord I and under cords 2 and 3, and over the binder thread I. In the second pick I2, as shown in Fig. '7, the weft thread passes around the binder I and back through the oppositely disposed group or cords I, 5 and 6, so as to pass under cord 4 and over cords 5 and 6. Thence, it passes over warp thread III which lies directly next to the beaded edge and under the next succeeding two warp threads and over the next two alternately throughout the width of the tape as before.

After the second pick both groups of cords are intertwisted A; of a revolution with the group of cords I, 2 and 3 being twisted together in a right handed direction, as shown by the arrow of Fig.7, until the respective cords have been moved through an angle of approximately degrees and the group of cords 4, 5 and 6 being twisted together in a left handed direction, as shown by the arrow, until these respective cords have been moved through an angle of approximately 120 degrees and assume the position as shown in Fig. 8 with respect to the shed of the weave. That is, the two groups of cords are twisted until the cords 2 and 5 ofthe respective groups assume the same respective positions that cords I and 4 did during the first and second picks of the weft thread. In some instances, "it may be desirable to twist the two groups of cords of a revolution after each single pick, that is, each group twisted through an angle of approximately 60 degrees after each pick.

In Fig. 8 is shown the third pick I3 wherein the Weft thread passes under two and over two and over the two warp threads directly next to the beaded edge. The weft thread then passes through the group of cords I, 2 and 3 of the beaded edge so as to pass over cord 2 and under cords I and 3, and over the binder thread I. In the fourth pick I4, as shown in Fig. 9, the weft thread passes around the binder "I and back through the group of cords 4, 5 and 5 so as to pass under cord 5 and over cords 4 and 6. The weft thread then passes under the warp thread III disposed directly next to the beaded edge and over the next two warp threads and then under and over two alternately, as before.

After the fourth pick .both groups of cords are again intertwisted one third of a revolution with the group of cords I, 2 and 3 being twisted together, as before, in a right handed direction, as shown by the arrow of Fig. 9, and the group of cords 4, 5 and 6 being twisted together in a left handed direction, as shown by the arrow until the respeotive cords have been moved through an angle of approximately 120 degrees, and assume the position as shown in Fig. 10, with respect to the shed of the weave. After such twisting of the two groups it will be seen that the cords 3 and 6 of the-respective groups assume the same respective positions that the cords 2 and 5 previously assumed during the third and fourth picks.

There is shown in Fig. 10,-the fifth pick I5 wherein the weft thread passes under two and over two of the warp threads alternately and under the two warp threads disposed directly next to the beaded edge, Thence, it passes through the group of cords I, 2 and 3 so as to pass over cord 3 and under cords I and 2, and over the .binder thread I. In the sixth pick I6, as shown in Fig. 11, the weft thread passes around the binder 'I and back through the group of cords 4, 5 and 6, so as to pass under cord 6 and over cords 4 and 5 from which the weft thread then passes over the warp thread I0 disposed directly next to the beaded edge and then alternately under the next twe warp threads and over the other succeeding two warps as before.

As hereinbefore stated, it will be seen that the weft thread repeats after the fourth pick or on the fifth pick, as shown in Fig. 10, which is identical with the first pick, as shown in Fig. 6. However, it will be seen that the pick through the cords I through 6 forming the beaded edge, does not repeat until after the sixth pick for the reason that there are six cords in the beaded edge, three in each group, which requires two picks or passes of the weft thread in order to interweave the cords in the tape.

After the sixth pick both groups of cords are again intertwisted one third of a revolution with the group of cords I, 2 and 3 being twisted together in a right handed direction, as shown by the arrow of Fig. 11, and the group of cords 4, 5 and 6 being twisted in a left handed direction, as shown bythe arrow, until the respective cords have been moved through an angle of approximately 120 degrees, and again assume their initial position relative to the shed of the weave, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. In other words, the two groups of cords are twisted until the cords I and 4 of the respective groups assume their original or the same respective positions that cords 3 and 6 assumed during the fifth and sixth picks. This completes one cycle of the weaving operation.

In Fig. 12 of the drawings, there is shown a conventional Weaver's diagram for the .particular tape herein illustrated. This diagram represents the position of the harnesses and frames, the black squares corresponding to an up position and the white squares to a down position thereof, or vice versa. The left hand side of this diagram represents the weave of the beaded edge at the free edge of the tape. The black squares at the extreme left side correspond to the binder thread I. The crossed White squares correspond to the cords I through 6, which form the beaded edge. The remainder of the diagram is a harness diagram with the black squares corresponding to the Warp threads.

It will be seen from the weaving operation just described, that the weft thread 9 is always pamed through and is disposed between the cords of each group at the beaded edge and does not pass at any point around all three of the cords of a group so as to be positioned on the outer side thereof and that the binder 1 is drawn in and positioned snugly between the two groups of cords, as will be seen in Fig. 5. That is, the weft thread passes around one of the innermost cords of each group together with the binder with the other two cords of each group disposed on the outer edge of the weft thread, so as to overlie the same throughout the length of the beaded edge. As hereinbefore stated, this is one of the most important attributes of this invention in that the weft thread at the beaded or corded edge, due to the shielding action of the outer two cords of each group, is not exposed to the clamping action of the jaws of the fastener elements when they are attached thereto. In other words, the jaws of the fastener elements contact only the two outer cords of each group and in no instance, the weft thread.

During the weaving operation, a small amount of tension is applied to each of the warp threads 8 and I0, approximately {*6 to A1 of a pound. The cords I through 6 which form the beaded edge are subjected to a greater amount of tension and each requires about of a pound tension. It is the tension in these cords that controls the amount of curvature in the tape, as shown in Fig.

2, the greater the tension on these cords, the

greater the radius of curvature of the tape. It will be understood that each group of twisted cords tends to contract after the tension thereon is released, due to the helical arrangement'thereof, thereby curving the tape, and it is one purpose of the binder I to limit the contraction of the twisted cords to control this contraction of the cords, and consequently, the curvature. This is done by subjecting the binder cord to an extremely large amount of tension during weaving. The binder also limits the stretch of the beaded edge after the fastener elements have been applied thereto. Also, any change in tension on the binder will influence thenumber of picks per inch and any increase in tension will tend to create filling floats between the two groups of cords and the main warp. It will be seen that the binder also acts to prevent the weft thread from pulling the innermost cord of each group into the body of the tape during weaving.

In the particular tape shown herein, in order to provide a t;- of an inch width tape, there is provided preferably fifty-nine warp threads each consisting preferably of a 20/2 combed peeler yarn. However, the number of warp ends may vary from 51 to 59, as desired, depending upon the size cords forming the beaded edge and the sizes of the warp and filling yarns. It has been found that each of the cords I through 6 and the binder I should be 16/7 combed peeler yarn. It will be understood that the specific quantities and dimensions as used herein are for purposes of illustration, and that they may be varied within the teachings of the invention and therefore, do not impose a limitation thereon.

As a result of our invention, it will be seen that the improved tape together with the method of weaving the same with an integrally woven beaded edge, has many advantages as pointed out in the foregoing description.

While we have shown and described one embodiment which our invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a tape for slide fastener stringers of the class described, a plurality of longitudinally extending warp threads, a weft thread interwoven back and forth through and between said warp threads so as toprovide a woven web, a beaded edge arranged along one edge of said tape comprising two oppositely disposed groups of cords with each group consisting of a plurality of longitudinally extending intertwisted cords, the weft thread extending through the web, over and around one of and. between the cords of one group, over all of the intertwisted cords of the other group, back over and around one of and between the cords of said last mentioned group, under all of the cords of said first mentioned -group, and through the web so that the weft thread is interwoven with both groups of cords and entirely concealed thereby along the beaded edge.

2. In a tape for slide fastener stringers of the class described, a plurality of longitudinally extending warp threads, a weft thread interwoven back and forth through and between said warp threads so as to provide a woven web, a beaded edge arranged along one edge of said tape, comprising two oppositely disposed groups of cords with each group consisting of a plurality of ion- 7 gitudinaliy extending intertwisted cords, the warp thread positioned on the outer side of said beaded edge next to and between the two groups of inj tertwisted cords and acting as a binder for the weft thread, the weft thread extending through;

the web, over and around one of and between the cords of one group, over all of the cords of the other group, over and back around the binder, over and around one of and between the cords of said last mentioned group, under all of the cords of said first mentioned group and through the web so that the weft thread is interwoven' with both groups of cords and entirely concealed thereby along the beaded edge.

3. In a tape for slide fastener stringers of the class described, a plurality of longitudinally extending warp threads, a weft thread interwoven back and forth through and between said warp threads so as to provide a woven web, a beaded edge arranged-along one edge of said tape comprising two oppositely disposed groups of cords with each group consisting of a plurality of Ion-- gitudinally extending intertwisted cords, the weft thread passing through the two groups alternately, each complete forward and return lay of the weft thread passing around at least one cord of each group.

4. In a tape for slide fastener stringers of the class described, a plurality of longitudinally ex tending warp threads, a weft thread interwoven back and forth through and between said warp threads so as to provide a woven web, a beaded edge arranged along one edge of saidtape comprising two oppositely disposed groups of cords with each group consisting of a plurality of longitudinally extending intertwisted cords, the weft thread passing through the two groups alternately, each complete forward and return lay of the weft thread passing around at least one cord of each group and in rotation until all of the cords of both groupsare interwoven with the warp threads.

5. In a tape for slide fastener stringers of the class described, a plurality of longitudinally extending warp threads, 9. weft thread interwoven back and forth through and between said warp threads so as to provide a woven web. a beaded edge arranged along one edge of said tape comprising two oppositely disposed groups of cords with each group consisting of at least three lougitudinally extending intertwisted cords, the weft thread extending through the web, over and around one of and between that cord and the other two cords of that group, back over and around one of and between one of the cords of the other group and the other two cords of said last mentioned group, and through the web so that the weft thread is interwoven with both groups of cords and substantially concealed thereby along the beaded edge.

OSBORNE FIRING. ROBERT M. GIBBONS, J a.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 587,349 Warner Aug. 3, 1897 1,810,807 Winterhalter June 16, 1931 2,308,850 Hendley Oct. 8, 1946 2,333,352 Wintriss Nov. 2, 1943 2,373,801 Alderfer Apr. 17, 1945 2,383,767 Brownlow et a1. Aug. 28, 1945 

